Thomas Tuchel: England to stick with Southgate's penalty plan at World Cup

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed that his squad will continue to follow the penalty shootout blueprint established by his predecessor, Gareth Southgate. The confirmation comes as England prepare for their opening knockout match of the 2026 World Cup against DR Congo.

Southgate, who took charge in 2016, transformed England's reputation from a team that struggled in shootouts to one that achieved three successes in four attempts between 2018 and 2024. His approach focused on meticulous preparation, muscle memory, and providing psychological support to players.

The FA has a programme that has been in place for years and we follow the programme. We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process. Thomas Tuchel

Despite committing to the established framework, Tuchel added a note of caution regarding the reality of tournament football, noting that simulating the pressure of a live shootout is impossible. He confirmed that while the team knows who the designated takers are, the final lineup depends on which players are still on the pitch at the end of the match.

Looking ahead to the encounter with DR Congo, Tuchel downplayed expectations of a "glamorous performance," insisting that the primary focus is on advancing through the bracket and stepping up in key moments.